Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed George J. Ward Jr. to begin hearing cases in August 2018. Judge Ward earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from Bucknell University and a Juris Doctor in 1993 from St. John’s University School of Law. From 1999 to 2018, he served in several positions with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. From 2012 to 2018, he served as deputy chief in the Office of Chief Counsel, ICE, DHS. From 2011 to 2012, he was deputy chief and then chief of the District Court Litigation Division. From 2010 to 2011, he was chief of the District Court Litigation Section. From 2007 to 2010, he was legislative counsel. From 2003 to 2007, he was an associate legal advisor. From 1999 to 2003, he was an assistant district counsel with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice in New York City. From 1993 to 1999, he was an assistant district attorney with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in Mineola, New York. Judge Ward is a member of the New York State Bar and New Jersey State Bar.